Live Report: The Woggles @ The Airliner, Dec 9th Show
Review By Gabriel Johns
I got to The Airliner located in Lincoln Heights, a section of East Los Angeles, to see The Woggles, a band that moves and grooves you!
Already a packed house I was ready to be rocked! Fronted by singer Manfred Jones, he grabs the audience by the throat, lovingly of course, and proceeds to shake you along with himself. Never missing a beat his vocals are powerful, demanding respect a la Otis Redding! His sinewy moves makes you want to move right along with him. Keeping the beat strong and buoyant was Dan Electro on drums! Straight out of the studio drummer persona, man, I love what he was throwing down along with the exquisite Buzz Hagstrom on bass, I loved their synchronized groove! And the guitar work of Shane Pringle and Graham Day, each trading off rhythms and lead, playfully playing off each other, sublime, old school rhythms and excellent leads. Man, Shane Pringle also played saxophone on some tunes which added a good soulful feel in the likes of Jr. Walker!
Their set started off with “What You Think We Are”. Instantly the crowd was moving soulfully their groove! I love Manfred’s attitude demanding you participate in what he’s giving and won’t take no for answer. About the fifth song in was Toad In The Hole. A really fun song that the peeps loved! I’ve got to tell you this band has been around for quite sometime and will continue to be here for many years to come. Their songs have good meaning and Manfred let’s you know what its all about
“Flesh Hammer”, their song currently getting a lot of radio airplay, mesmerized me! So great to here it live and they performed it perfectly with great force. Each song struck a chord in my heart! Fun, fun, fun was had by all in that crowded, packed floor! Everyone singing along, dancing! Quite a scene that you don’t see much of!
Oh, here and there Manfred would come down into the crowd and dance, sing with his beloved audience! Great to see him getting down on the floor with the rest of us. You must, yes must, see The Woggles! They give good show!! Check out their videos on YouTube! Buy their music! You won’t regret and probably add all songs to your playlist!
For a band to not only last 30 years together but keep scaling more imposing heights, it’s going to need a sense of purpose. In the case of The Woggles, the seasoned garage rockers are greeting the milestone with a renewed rallying cry to move ever forward, a three-syllable statement of intent which also serves as the title of their new album on Wicked Cool Records, Tally Ho!
“The band is not as much an institution as a way of life,” says frontman “The Professor” Mighty Manfred. “The main thing is to keep swimming, cause the shark has got to keep moving.
